Expansion-control device for elastic valves.



W. Y. STEWART. EXPANSION CONTROL DEVTCE FOR ELASTIC VALVES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. 1916.

Patented May 14, 1918.

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WILLIAMY. STEWART, 0F DELIVER, COLORADO. 7

"T5?- EXPANSION-CONTROL DEVICE'FOR ELASTIC VALVES.

" Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd May 14, 1918,

Application filed February 8, 1916; Seria1 No.7 7,06 2.

.To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM Y. STEwAnT,

citizen of the-United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State [of Colorado, have invented certain new and provide means for permitting normal expansion of the valve and preventing abnormal expansion thereof.

With this and other objects in view the ,invention comprisesucertain novel constructions, combinations. and arrangements of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed and as illustrated in the accome panying drawings in which like characters f of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which Figure I is a longitudinal vertical section of an ordinary Fuller cock showing the usual elastic valve with one form of cap, constructed in accordance with this invention, positioned upon the same.

Fig. II is a front elevation of such a valve with another form of cap, constructed in accordance with this invention, positioned thereon.

Fig. III is a side elevation, partly in section, of the valve and cap shown in Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a rear elevation of the cap of the form shown in Figs. II and III.

Fig. V is a vertical longitudinal section of the cap of the form shown in Figs. II, III and IV.

In the ordinary Fuller cock the valve is composed of rubber or a composition similar thereto and is, in shape, approximately cylindrical with rounded ends. t is ordinarily referred to as the Fuller-ball and, for convenience will be thus referred to herein. Also, while these cocks may be used for any liquid the general use is for water and in these specifications I shall use the word water as representing any liquid for which the cock may be used.

In Fig. I of the drawings I have shown an ordinary Fuller-cock complete but the construction and operation thereof is so to insure the closing of the valve.

pressure thus exerted upon the ends of the ball (by the valve seat 7 at the front end commonly understood that I shall not devalve seat 7 as shown in Fig. I for closing the" valve and shutting off the liquid, or forcing the ball back away from the valve seat 7 for opening the valve and allowing the liquid to flow forward therethrou'gh from chamber 8; r

It will be noted that the body of the Fuller-ball is at all times within the water chamber 8 and thus is at all times submerged in the'water therein'and subject to the action "thereof;

I In closing thevalve theball is drawn against the valve seat with suflicient force The and by lock nut 4 at the rear end) causes the ball to expand sidewise to some degree. This I term the normal expansion as it results naturally from the ordinary operation of the valve.

In addition to this normal expansion the action of the water, and especially hot water (for which Fuller-cocks are very commonly used) causes a swelling or abnormal expansion of the ball which, if the swelling be not checked, will finally enlarge to such an ex tent that it will substantially fill the portion of chamber 8 surrounding the ball resulting in practically shutting off the flow of water past the ball at all times, such swelling being accompanied with a loss of the normal elasticity of the ball so that it does not resume its normal shape when relieved of the pressure of the nut 4: and the valve seat This swelling or abnormal expansion of the ball causes much trouble and expense in keeping Fuller-cocks in repair. I am aware that caps of metal have been used for inclosing portions of the Fuller-ball for preventing expansion thereof but such caps are so constructed that the normal expansion of the portion of the ball within the cap is prevented as well as the swelling or abnormal expansion.

In order to limit this swelling or abnormal expansion and maintain sufiicient space around the ball to insure a sufiicient flop of Water at all times and at the same time provide for the normal expansion of the ball, I provide a cap 9 of any sufficiently stifi or substantial material, designed to inclose the rear end and a substantial portion of the body of the hall, preferably more than half thereof. The cap is preferably designed to lit the hall snugly but in the walls of the cap I provide means such as perforations 10 or fiutings or corrugations 11 whose raised ribs leave spaces for permitting some expansion of the ball therein and these spaces are to be large enough to accommodate Within them the ordinary or normal sidewise expansion of that portion of the hall which lies Within the cap, The number and size of the perforations or fiutings or other similar spaces will be determined by the size of the ball, its vqualities, especially its velasticity, the amount of pressure to which it Will be subjected in closing the valve and other factors which Would determine the normal expansion of the ball.

this means provision is made for ermitting the normal expansion Of the all throughout its length thus retaining and utilizing the elasticity of the entire ball hereas Were the cap to fit the ball closely neeasao at all points the elastic action of the ball would be limited to the small portion thereof in front of and outside of the ca necessitating greater pressureon the bal to insure a tight fit in the valve seat, resulting in greater Wear upon the ball and necessitating more power to close the valve and thus making the operation of the valve more difficult. I

My invention is primarily designed for use in Fuller-cooks of the ordinary and usual shapes and sizes and its construction is such, as'clearly shown in the drawings, that it may be placed upon the ball in any Fullercock of ordinary design vitithout any" change in such ball or any other portion of the cock. I ai t V 1. A cap for a Fullerco ck' valve having corrugations in the Walls thereof.

2. A cap for inclosing a portion of an F elastic valve and preventing abnormal swelling thereof and having corrugations formed therein for perinitting elastic action of the valve Within the cap.

Intestirnony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses, I

WILLIAM Y. STEW'ART. Witnesses:

Vvnnnnmn, WALTER C. Banner-: J r.

topics of this pat ent may be obtained for Eye cents each, by addressing the Gommlssloner of Patents,

Washington, ID. G. 

